Norway could potentially supply Europe with gas for decades to come, which would help diversify the energy market, and strengthen European’s energy security. Additionally, gas has the benefit of offering cost efficient CO2-emission reductions. His Excellency Tord Lien will elaborate on this and more, such as the benefits of gas in a lower carbon future, how well-functioning energy markets in Europe are crucial for the transition to a cleaner energy system with robust security of supply, and prospects for Norwegian gas. We hope that you will be able to join us for this timely discussion.

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Tord Lien is the Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy and was appointed on 16 October 2013. It is the Minister’s responsibility is to ensure high value creation through efficient and environment-friendly management of Norway’s energy resources. Prior to his appointment, he was a member of the Norwegian Parliament for the Progress Party since 2005. From 2009 to 2013 he served as second Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Education, Research, and Church Affairs, and served as a member of the Standing Committee on Energy and the Environment from 2005 to 2009. Minister Lien holds a Master’s degree in History from the Norwegian University of Technology and Science.

Annie Medaglia is Deputy Director of the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center, which she joined in 2015. Before joining the Global Energy Center, Ms. Medaglia was Special Adviser to both the Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy and the Special Envoy for International Energy Affairs at the US Department of State, where she directed diplomatic engagement on energy with Europe, Russia, and Ukraine. While a Presidential Management Fellow with the US Department of State, she managed the Middle East portfolio in the Legislative Affairs Bureau and was the Desk Officer for Qatar and Oman in the Near Eastern Affairs Bureau. Additionally, Ms. Medaglia served as a Fellow with the US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. She holds an MBA and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Virginia. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Virginia in Foreign Affairs and Spanish.

Damon Wilson is Executive Vice President of the Atlantic Council. From 2007 to 2009, Mr. Wilson served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council. He managed interagency policy on NATO, the European Union, Georgia, Ukraine, the Balkans, Eurasian energy security, and Turkey, and planned numerous presidential visits to Europe, including US-European Union and NATO summits. Mr. Wilson has also served at the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq as the Executive Secretary and Chief of Staff; at the National Security Council as the Director for Central, Eastern, and Northern European Affairs; and as Deputy Director in the Private Office of NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson. Prior to serving in Brussels, Mr. Wilson worked in the US Department of State in various positions and served in Rwanda with Save the Children. He is a graduate of Duke University and completed his graduate studies at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School for Public and International Affairs. Mr. Wilson also worked with the Unaccompanied Children in Exile refugee program in Croatia and Turkey.